322 BIOLOGY AND ITS MAKERS 
wonder. The passage in the Scriptures was pointed out, 
that ‘‘there were giants in those days,” and the bones were 
taken to be evidences of the former existence of giants. The 
opinions expressed regarding the fossil bones were varied and 
fantastic, ““some saving that they were rained from Heaven, 
others saying that they were the gigantic limbs of the ancient 
patriarchs, men who were believed to be tall because they 
were known to be old.”’ Following out this idea, ‘“‘Henrion 
in 1718 published a work in which he assigned to Adam a 
height of 123 feet 9 inches, Noah being 20 feet shorter, and 
so on.” 
Determination of the Nature of Fossils.—In due course 
it came to be recognized that fossils were the remains of forms 
that had been alive during earlier periods of time; but in 
reaching this position there was continual controversy. Ob- 
jections were especially vigorous from theological quarters, 
since such a conclusion was deemed to be contradictory to 
the Scriptures. The true nature of fossils had been clearly 
perceived by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) and certain 
others in the sixteenth century. 
The work, however, that approached more nearly to sci- 
entific demonstration was that of Steno (1638-1686), a 
Dane who migrated to Italy and became the court physician 
to the dukes of Tuscany. He was a versatile man who had 
laid fast hold upon the new learning of his day. Eminent 
as anatomist, physiologist, and physician, with his ever 
active mind he undertook to encompass all learning. It is 
interesting that Steno—or Stensen—after being passionately 
devoted to science, became equally devoted to religion and 
theology, and, forsaking all scientific pursuits, took orders 
and returned to his native country with the title of bishop. 
Here he worked in the service of humanity and religion to 
the end of his life. 
In reference to his work in geology, his conclusions 
